Steve Smear

Steve Smear was a standout lineman at the football factory of Penn State. Named an All-American in 1968, Smear was drafted in the fourth round of the 1970 NFL college draft by the Baltimore Colts, but chose to sign instead with the Montreal Alouettes. Smear signed with the Alouettes in 1970, just in time for the revival of the franchise from the doldrums of the 1960s. With a new owner in Sam Berger, a new GM in Red O'Quinn and a new head coah in Sam Etcheverry, the Alouettes went on to win the Grey Cup in Smear's rookie season.

Smear played three seasons in total with the Alouettes (1970-72), winning a pair of East All-Stars (1970 and 1971) and a CFL All-Star in his rookie season in 1970. In April of 1973, Smear was traded to the Toronto Argonauts for Marv Luster and a player to be named later. Smear played one season (1973) for the Argos and one with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (1974). Smear was a defensive tackle at Penn State but played mainly defensive end middle linebacker in the CFL.

Smear injured his back in the spring of 1975 and according to the Roughriders was not able to pass his medical. Saskatchewan placed Smear on waivers and apparently planned to release him which provoked a spat with the CFLPA as league rules didn't allow teams to release an injured player. The Riders claimed the rule didn't apply since the injury had happened in the off-season. In the end, Smear was put on the injured list and didn't play any games in 1975, or for that matter again in the CFL..